Locking means for door latches



April 25, I950 F. KAISER LOCKING MEANS FOR DOOR LATCHES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 50, 1949 JNVEN TOR. fled Kazan,

j JLZIW Qg April 25, 1950 F. KAISER LOCKING MEANS FOR DOOR LATCHES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 30, 1949 INVENTOR. (aw;

Patented Apr. 25, 1950 UNITED STATES TNT ()FFICE Claims.

This invention relates to improvements indoor latch. mechanism includingmeans: operative from one, e. g. theinner, sideof the door. for locking the latch mechanism against manipulation from the-opposite; e.. g. theouten side of the door...

It is the purpose of the invention. to. provide, combination with. a door latch mechanism which is operable by a spindleadapted to-be ro tated bythe turning oi. the: door knobs, means operative from. the. inner side-v of the door for locking the spindle againstrotation. by theouter door knob, but. leaving. said spindle subject. to rotation by the innerdoor knob at all times; such means comprising. a novel. locking device which ismounted within. the roseassociated-with the: inner door knob and which. is. adapted to cooperate with. a manipulatable. lock-bar that is slidably mounted in connection with the spindle, said. lock-bar terminating in a push. button mounted. in connection. withtheinner doorknob so-.as to.project axially therefromand. by which the lock-bar canbe manipulated. The invention further. includes an arrangement. whereby the lock-bar can. be released. from its spindle locking disposition by means. of. a push. key adapted. to be inserted intothe outer. knoh.

An. illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary. inside face, view of a door whichis equippedwiththe novel latch mechanism andlocking means therefor according to this invention; Fig.2 is. avertical cross-sectional View, taken on line 2l--Z in Fig. 1, the locking means being. shown in, released position; Fig. 3 is a transverse section, taken on. line 3-3 in Fig. 2;, Fig. 4 is another transverse section, taken on line 4-4in Fig. 2; Fig; 5 is a. vertical crosssectional view, similar to that of Fig. 2, but

showing the locking means in spindle locking Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings,- the reference character It! indicates a door equipped with alatch mechanism and locking means therefor accord ingto: this invention. Mounted in a. mortised opening, which; extends: into. the door body. from its: free end;. is a casing: Hi in. which is housed the normally projected door latch bolt I2. Journaled in and between opposite side walls of the casing H is the hub. l3 of a rotary cam piece which: is shaped to provide oppositely extending cam elements l4; Unitary with said latch: bolt 52, to extend from the inner end: thereof within the casing. i I, is a pull member I5 which-.terminates at itsrearward end in spaced apart legs I'S adapted to straddle the hub- :3 of the cam piece. Said legs !6 of the pull member I-5 are provided with terminal portions H which; are suitably shaped for operative-engagement by the cam. elements I4. The pull member I5 extends through a transverse partition member l8 with which the interior of the casing I! isprovided at a point intermediate-the campiece and latch bolt. The latch bolt and its pullmember. is yieldahly urged. to latch bolt projecting position by a. compression spring l9 which is engaged around the pull member between the inneror rear end of the door latch t2 and said partition member is.

The means for operating the above described latch mechanism. comprises a knob actuatable spindle which. extends through the hub 13 of. the cam piece from one side. to the other of. the door It. Said spindle isformed to provide a. main body section 20 of polygonal cross-sectionalshape which extends through the hub 13 of the cam piece and thence toward and through the outer side of the door it, and. said hub. l3 of. thecam pieceis provided. with a correspondingly shaped axialopeningZl, whereby said cam piece is keyed to the spindle to turn therewith. Unitary with and extending axially fromthe body section 20 of the spindle, toward and through the inner side of the door it is a. tail section 22of circular cross-section.

Affixed to the exterior face of the door III is an exterior rose 23 by which an exterior door knob 26 is rotatably supported. The shank of said knob 26 is provided with an axially disposed spindle receiving opening 24 of polygonal crosssectional shape corresponding to the cross-semtional shape of the main body 20 of the spindle, whereby said spindle is keyed to the knob toturn therewith.

Affixed' to the interior face of the door Ill is an interior rose 25 by which an interior door knob 2% is rotatably supported. countersunk in inner face of the body of the interior rose=25 is a perpendicular slideway or guide channel 21 andialso countersunk: in the body of said interior rose; so. as to open toward the. slideway or guide channel 2 isan axially disposed circular recess 283 with which. communicates an. outwardly 'ex 3 tending axial bearing opening 29 of reduced diameter. The terminal hub 3|] of the shank of the interior door knob 26 is journaled in said bearing opening 29. Housed in the recess 28 is a rotatable clutch-piece 3|, which is provided with an outwardly extending, externally screwthreaded stem 32 of reduced diameter. Said clutch-piece 3| and its stem 32 is provided with an axial passage 33 through which extends the tail section 22 of the above described spindle. The shank of the interior door knob 26 is provided with an axially disposed internally screwthreaded opening 34, whereby said knob can be screwed onto and aflixed to the stem 32 of the clutch-piece 3|, so as to couple said clutch piece and knob in unitary operative relation. The clutch-piece 3| is provided in its upper section or part with a radially extending clutch opening 35 of sectoral shape, behind which is disposed a stop shoulder 38 which is formed in connection with the stem 32 of said clutch-piece.

The spindle 2|i--22 is provided with an upwardly open guideway 31 which extends longitudinally therethrough from end to end thereof. Slidably supported in said guideway 3! is a longitudinally movable lock-bar 38, one end portion 39 of which projects outwardly from the tail section 22 of the spindle into the interior knob 26. Affixed to the extremity of said end portion 39 of the lock-bar 38 is a push-button 48, which projects exteriorly of the face of the interior knob 26. Formed in connection with the upper exposed edge of said lock-bar is an upwardly projecting lock-piece 4|. This lock-piece is shaped to provid a forward inclined cam edge 42 and a rear- Ward inclined cam edge 43. Behind the lockpiece 4|, the lock-bar 38 is further provided with a stop projection 44 which normally abuts the stop-shoulder 36 of the clutch-piece, whereby to determine the normal initial retracted position of the lock-bar (see Fig. 2).

Slidably supported in the slideway or guide channel 2'! of the interior rose 25, subject to movements therein in the perpendicular plane thereof, is a lock-plate 45, which is thus disposed transverse to the spindle and lock-bar 38. The lockeplate 45 is yieldably thrust downwardly by compression springs 46 to a normal stopped position against the bottom end 4'! of the slideway or guide channel 21. Said compression springs 46 are housed in cavities 48, with which the body of the interior rose 25 is provided, respectively contiguous to opposite sides of the slideway or guide channel 21. Side marginal portions of the lock-plate 45 are cut away as at 49 to accommodate said springs 46, so that the upper extremities of the springs are backed against the upper ends of the cavities 48, while the lower ends of the springs bear upon and thrust against shoulders 5| which are formed on the lock-plate 45 at the lower ends of the cut away portions 49. The central portion of the lock-plate 45 is cut away to provide an opening comprising an upper section 52, adapted to straddle the tail section 22 of the spindle, and a lower section 53 of enlarged dimensions and so shaped as to provide the lockplate with lift projections 54 intermediate said upper and lower sections 5| and 52 of the opening at respectively opposite sides of the latter.

Formed in connection with the lower section or part of the clutch-piece 3|, to project from the face thereof into the lower section 53 of the lock-plate opening, so as to lie intermediate and in normal engagement with the lift projections 54 of the lock-plate 45, is a cam element 55. The

top margin of the upper section 52 of the lockplate opening is indented by a lock-notch 56 of a width corresponding to the thickness of the lockbar 38 and its lock-piece 4|. Preferably the interior rose 25 is provided with a cover plate 51 which overlies the slideway or guide channel 21 and the lock-plate 45 contained therein. Said cover plate 51 is provided with a suitably shaped central opening 58 through which the spindle extends, and through which the lock-bar 38 and its lock-piece 4| may pass. The lock-bar 38 is yieldably thrust to stopped normal position, determined by abutment of its stop projection 44 against the stop shoulder 36, by a compression spring 59 which is mounted around the end portion 39 of the lock-bar between the spindle and push button 40.

It will be understood that the roses 23 and 25 may be afiixed to the respective exterior and interior faces of the door H] in various ways. Preferably, however, as shown in Fig. 8, internally screw-threaded tie members 68 extend from the rose 23 through the door Ill to the rose 25, and fastening screws 6| pass through the latter to screw into said tie members 68, thus securely affixing the roses in place, and in such manner that removal thereof cannot be accomplished from the exterior side of the door.

Normally the lock-bar 38 is inwardly or rearwardly disposed in the normal position shown in Fig. 2 so that the push-button 4B is outwardly projected from the face of the interior door knob 26. When the lock-bar 38 is thus disposed, the lock-piece 4| is disengaged from the lock-notch 56 of the lock-plate 45, so that the spindle 2|122 is free to be turned by the exterior door knob 24 in either direction, thereby to operate the latch mechanism to effect door releasing retraction of the latch bolt l2. When the lock-bar 38 is disposed in said normal position, the lock-piece 4| lies wholly within the clutch opening 35 of the clutch-piece 3|. When, therefore, the interior door knob 26 is turned in either direction, the clutch-piece 3| is also turned to engage a side of the clutch opening 35 thereof with the lock-piece 4|, so that the rotary movement of the clutchpiece is transmitted through the lock-piece 4| and lock-bar 38 to the spindle 2|i22, whereby the latter is turned so as to operate the latch mechanism to effect door releasing retraction of the latch bolt l2. It will thus be obvious that, under these circumstances, the spindle can be rotated to operate the latch mechanism by either the exterior or interior door knob, so that the door may be opened from either the outside or inside thereof.

If it is desired to lock the door against being opened from the outside, after the door is closed from the inside, the operator merely pushes inwardly upon the push button 40, thus sliding forwardly the lock-bar 38 along the spindle 2!l22. Such forward movement of the lock-bar 38 carries forward the lock-piece 4|, whereby its forward cam edge 42 engages and lifts the lock-plate 45 against the tension of the springs 46 so as to permit the peak of said lock-piece to pass the lockplate for disposition forwardly of the latter, whereafter the lock-plate descends, under the influence of the springs 46, so that the lock-notch 56 thereof embraces the rearward portion of the lock-piece in interlocking relation thereto, with the consequence that the spindle 28-22 is restrained from operative rotation by the exterior door knob 24, and opening of the door by manipulation of the exterior door knob is prevented (see rea-ice 5 Figs.[ 5" and 6). When the lock-bar 38'- is; thus forwardlymoved, the peak of the lock-piece 41 will abut the: face of the lowered lock-plate 4 5 abo e he e d f 1ocknotc 5 n hefl1ockbar will thereby. be stopped against rearward orretr tive. movement: un er he influen o t spring 59. Such restraint i effective notwithr standing e encasement f; th rear a g 43' or the lock-piece 41 with the lock-plate 45; since the tensional pressure. of the springs 45, w i hrust o n th loc -p ate, is. reat r than the tensional pressure of the spring, 591.

c When the spindle 20,-2 2. is. looked against-latch ec smperating o a on by he. exter or o r kn b if the n eri r do r. knobv Zfiistu n d in. either direction, the clutch-piece 3| willv be, ate w e y ts cam eleme t-5,5 will cooperate with one or the other of the l i;tt projections 54 of theflockeplate 45,, thus lifting the latter against the ension of the spring 4.6,, so, as. to disengage the; lock-notch 56 from the lock-piece 4! of the lock-bar 38. (see- Fig. 7)., Owing, to, the sectoral shape and width of the clutch-opening 3.5. of the clutch-piece 3|, the initial lock-plate liftin roe tation of the clutch-piece and its cam element 55: will not be obstructed by the lock-piece lit, even though a portion of the latter lies within said clutch-opening 35, since an initial play between the sides of the clutch-opening and lock.- piece 41 is provided: tor. As a consequence of this, the rotated clutch-plane will not transmit its'mo iion to the lock-piece 4i and spindle 2,l1 Z until; after the lock-plate 45 has been ifted, and the lockrbar 38 set free for returnto its normal in ti l or r t cted o on u d h nflu of its sp i 59. Upon re rn of: t e o k-b i to, normal initial or retracted position, the roe tative movement of the clutch-piece 3.! is trans-v mitted through the engaged lock-piece 4! to the spindle Elie-'22,, whereby to ef efltlatch mechanism operating relation of the latter by the interior door knob 26. By reason of this mode of operation, not onlyis the interior door knob 25 free for latch mechanism operation at all times, but I it would be desirable or necessary to release the 5 lock-bar 38- from the lock-plate 45' from theouter side of the door, means are provided for such purpose. This means comprises the provision in the face of the exterior knob 24 of a keyhole 63 which is aligned with the slideway 31 of the spindle portion 20, so as to be opposed to the forward extremity 62 of the lock-bar 28. Release of the lock-bar 38 and its lock-piece 4| from spindle locking relation to the lock-plate 45 may be effected from the outer side of the door by inserting a suitable push-key 64 through the keyhole 63 and into the slideway 31 so as to engage and thrust against the extremity 62 of the lock bar, whereby to push the latter rearwardly. As rearward movement of the lock-bar 38 is thus induced by the inserted push-key 64, the cam edge 43 cf the lock-piece 4| is thrust against the lock-plate 45 so as to lift the latter against thetension of the springs 46, thereby allowing the peak of the lock-piece to be disengaged from the lock-notch 56, and thus permitting the spring 59 to return the lock-bar to normal initial or retracted position, so that the spindle 2lJ--22 is thereupon freed and subject to latch mechanism operating rotation by the exterior door knob 24.

Having now described my invention, 1' claim:

1. Latch mechanism for a door comprising. a latch bolt and actuating means therefor, a rose mounted on the inner side of the door, a yieldable lock-plate housed in said rose, a rotatable clutch-piece also. housed in said rose behind the lock-plate, an interior door knob. journaled in the rose and connected with said clutch-piece whereby to rotate the same, a spindle operatively engaged with the latch bolt actuating means, an exterior door knob aifixed to the outer end POI- tion of said spindle, the inner end portion of said spindle extending through the lock-plate and clutch-piece, a lock-bar slidably mounted on the spindle, an end portion of said lock-bar termi-i nating in a push button disposed to project from the face of the interior door knob, and a lockpiece on said lock-bar, the lock-piece being; engageable by the clutch-piece whereby to rotate the spindle when the interior door knob is turned, lock-piece being adapted to be carried by forward shifting of the lock-bar into interlocked engagement with the lock-plate whereby to lock the spindle against rotation by the exteriordoor knob.

2, A latch mechanism for .a door as defined in claim 1, wherein the lock-piece isprovided with a forward cam edge formation operative to teme porarily displace the lock-plate upon. inward movement of the lock-piece to its interlocked relation to said lock-plate.

3. A latch mechanism for a door as defined in claim 1, wherein the, exterior door knob is provided with a key receiving means whereby a key inserted therein may be utilized to engage and retract the lock-bar to withdraw the lock-piece from interlocked relation to the lock-plate, said lock-piece having a rearward cam edge forma: tion operative to release the lock-plate from the lock-piece.

4. A latch mechanism for a door as defined in claim 1, wherein the lock-piece is provided with a forward cam edge formation operative to teme porarily' displace the lock-plate upon inward movement of the lock-piece to its interlocked relation to said lockeplate, and wherein the 8X? terior door knob is provided with a key receiving means whereby a key inserted therein may be utilized to engage and retract the lock-bar to withdraw the lock-piece from interlocked relation to the lock-plate, said lock-piece having a rearward cam edge formation operative to re lease the lock-plate from the lock-piece.

5. Latch mechanism for a door comprising a latch bolt and actuating means therefor, a rose mounted on the inner side of the door, a yieldable lock-plate housed in said rose, a rotatable clutchpiece also housed in said rose behind the lockplate, an interior door knob journaled in the rose and connected with said clutch-piece whereby to rotate the same, a spindle operatively engaged with the latch bolt actuating means, an exterior door knob affixed to the outer end portion of said spindle, the inner end portion of said spindle extending through the lock-plate and clutch-piece, a lock-bar slidably mounted on the spindle, an end portion of said lock-bar terminating in a push button disposed to project from the face of the interior door knob, a lockpiece on said lock-bar, the lock-piece being engageable by the clutch-piece whereby to rotate the spindle when the interior door knob is turned, said lock-piece being adapted to be carried by forward shifting of the lock-bar into interlocked To engagement with the lock-plate whereby to lock the spindle against rotation by the exterior door knob, said clutch-piece and lock-plate have cooperative means whereby initial rotative movement of the former will move the lock-plate to release the lock-piece from interlocked relation thereto, and spring means for retracting the lockbar and lock-piece when so released.

6. Latch mechanism for a door comprising a latch bolt and actuating means therefor, a rose mounted on the inner side of the door, said rose having a slideway formed in its inner face, a spring-pressed lock-plate movable in said slideway, a clutch-piece rotatably mounted in said rose behind the lock-plate, an interior door knob journaled in the rose and affixed to said clutchpiece for rotating the latter, a spindle operatively engaged with the latch bolt actuating means, an exterior door knob affixed to one end portion of said spindle, the opposite end portion of said spindle extending through the lock-plate and clutch-piece, said spindle having a longitudinally extending slideway, a lock-bar slidably mounted in said spindle slideway, an end portion of said lock-bar terminating in a push button disposed to project from the face of the interior door knob, and a lock-piece projecting from said lock-bar and adapted to be engageable by the clutch-piece whereby to rotate the spindle by turning of the interior door knob, said lock-piece being adapted to be carried by forward shifting of the lock-bar into interlocked engagement with the lock-plate, whereby to lock the spindle against rotation by the exterior door knob.

7. Latch mechanism for a door comprisin a latch bolt and actuating means therefor, a rose mounted on the inner side of the door, said rose having a slideway formed in its inner face, a spring-pressed lock-plate movable in said slideway, a clutch-piece rotatably mounted in said rose behind the lock-plate, an interior door knob journaled in the rose and affixed to said clutchpiece for rotating the latter, a spindle operatively engaged with the latch bolt actuating means, an exterior door knob afl'ixed to one end portion of said spindle, the opposite end portion of said spindle extending through the lock-plate and clutch-piece, said spindle having a longitudinally extending slideway, a lock-bar slidably mounted in said spindle slideway, an end portion of said lock-bar terminating in a push button disposed to project from the face of the interior door knob, a lock-piece projecting from said lock-bar and adapted to be engageable by the clutch-piece whereby to rotate the spindle by turning of the interior door knob, said lockpiece being adapted to be carried by forward shifting of the lock-bar into interlocked engagement with the lock-plate, whereby to lock the spindle against rotation by the exterior door knob, said clutch-piece and lock-plate having cooperative means whereby initial rotative movement of the former will move the lock-plate to release the lock-piece from interlocked relation thereto, and spring means for retracting the lock-bar and lock-piece when so released.

8. Latch mechanism for a door as defined in claim 7, wherein the lock-piece is provided with a forward cam edge formation operative to temporarily displace the lock-plate upon inward movement of the lock-piece to its interlocked relation to said lock-plate.

9. Latch mechanism for a door as defined in claim 7, wherein the exterior door knob is provided with a key receiving means whereby a key inserted therein may be utilized to engage and retract the lock-bar to withdraw the lock-piece from interlocked relation to the lock-plate, said lock-piece having a rearward cam edge formation operative to release the lock-plate from the lockplece.

10. Latch mechanism for a door as defined in claim '7, wherein the lock-piece is provided with a forward cam edge formation operative to temporarily displace the lock-plate upon inward movement of the lock-piece to its interlocked relation to said lock-plate, and wherein the exterior door knob is provided with a key receiving means whereby a key inserted therein may be utilized to engage and retract the lock-bar to withdraw the lock-piece from interlocked relation to the lock-plate, said lock-piece having a rearward cam edge formation operative to release the lock-plate from the lock-piece.

FRED KAISER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,768,193 DeVita June 24, 1930 2,188,149 Kaiser Jan. 23, 1940 2,226,499 Ledin Dec. 24, 1940 

